Filtering your pool water is one of the most important steps in maintaining a clean and healthy pool.  There are three basic types of filters for your swimming pool.

Sand Filters:  This is the most commonly used filter for your pool. Most pools are equipped with sand filters because they require the least amount of maintenance and are easy to use.  Pool water is pumped through the sand-filled pressurized container.  The sand traps larger particles first than the smaller particles.
. Over time, dirt accumulates in the spaces between
the sand particles, causing the pressure in the container to rise. This tells you to “backwash” the filter. Simply reverse the
water flow and your filter is clean again. While this is the easiest filter to use it is not the most efficient for keeping your pool clean and clear.  Pentair has introduced a sand filter that will give you a much finer filtration rate coupled with the ease of a sand filter.  This is the best sand filter for your pool!

Cartridge Filters: Are your best choice for water clarity and energy efficiency. Your water will flow very easily through the filter,thus requiring a lower horsepower pump. These filters will filter down to 30 microns (beach sand is 1,000 microns)and if properly sized, cartridge filters can provide the most amount of filter area. The water saving feature is a real plus, most filters require hundreds of gallons of water to properly clean them, just pull out the cartridges and rinse clean. The biggest disadvantage of cartridge filters is that they are usually undersized, which means that they will require numerous cleanings to operate properly.

Diatomaceous Earth:  This filter more commonly known as D.E. is the best filter available for the cleanest water possible, it filters down to 5 microns!  This filter will polish your water.  This filter uses a powder like media of Diatomaceos Earth or cellulose fiber.  D.E. dust is very dangerous to inhale and many communities are outlawing it from being washed down the sewer system. Cellulose fiber is fast becoming the safe alternative for D.E., it requires far less media and filters for longer. Maintenance is very easy, you can backwash or just breakdown and rinse, then recharge with new media.

Multi Cyclone Pre Filter: This is the newest idea for pool filters.

It allows for less maintenance and water usage while maintaining a clean filter. This pre-filter only requires 13 gallons per minute of water flow to operate. the advantages of this system is that it removes up to 90% of dirt particles 30 microns and up.  There is no filter media to maintain and it only requires 10 gallons of water to purge the dirt. The advantages to this system are numerous allowing for less water waste due to less backwashing and less filter maintenance.

 Which ever filter you choose make sure that it is properly sized to your pool and your circulation pump.  It is also very important that your pool pump and filter operate during the heat of the day to ensure that bacteria and contaminates are removed before the heat and sun allows these unwanted items from growing in your pool.